Syndromic Surveillance

Extreme heat events over the past 30 years have resulted in unprecedented increase in the numbers of heat-related morbidity and mortality across the world (1-3). During the same time frame, Houston residents has experienced three of the hottest summers on record since 1889, with 2011 being the hottest summer on record (4). Therefore, preparing for extreme heat events and monitoring their effects on public health is a vital role for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS). Since heat-related illnesses are not a reportable condition in the state of Texas, HDHHS authorities rely on other sources to provide information on the impact of heat on the population. HDHHS is currently able to monitor emergency departments (ED) visits across the Houston metropolitan area, Harris County, and the surrounding jurisdictions by using a syndromic surveillance system called Real-time Outbreak Disease Surveillance (RODS). The RODS system collects de-identified patient data that consists of their chief complaint and basic demographics (e.g. age, sex, zip code). This study is aimed at evaluating the ability of RODS to detect heat-related illnesses during heat event of the years 2009-2012 as well as identifying the areas of Houston that had the highest incidence of heat-related morbidity.

Objective

To evaluate the ability of a syndromic surveillance system to detect heat-related illnesses during a heat wave in Houston and to identify areas in Houston that requires additional resources to prevent heat-related illnesses.

We describe age- and syndrome-specific emergency department (ED) visit patterns for diarrhea and vomiting associated with periods of confirmed epidemic rotavirus and presumed epidemic norovirus in New York City (NYC).

We conducted a study to examine the suitability of the data collected at the local emergency departments for use in syndromic surveillance.

This paper describes the development of a syndromic surveillance system in France. It is based on three different types of data: hospitals (ED visits), GPís activities (Sos Medecins), deaths certificates.

This paper assesses the possible interest of using of a syndromic surveillance system based on emergency departments (ED) and crude mortality for monitoring health effects of climate changes (CC).

This abstract describes an Electronic Surveillance System for Infectious Disease Outbreaks used by all federal levels in Germany and comments on timelyness and comprehensiveness of informations about outbreak settings and infection sources.

To determine sensitivity and specificity of syndromic surveillance of influenza based on data from SOS Medecins, a healthcare network of emergency general practitioners (GP) in Bordeaux, France.

In July 2006, an important heat wave occurred in France, and generated alarm of all the public health services. In Gironde, a department in region Aquitaine, the level of "warning and actions" of the Heat Health Watch Warning System, based on an analysis of weather-mortality relationship, was activated from the 16th and the 27th of July, when the limits of biometeorological indicators were reached [1].

Objective

To assess health impact of heat wave occurred in July 2006 through data from emergency activity and mortality from syndromic surveillance systems in Gironde, a department in south-western France.